Fire-escape.



No; 727,237. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. 1). WARD.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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NITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL WARD, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM J. SHANNON, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,237, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed August 4, 1902. Serial No. 118,311. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria,

in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to a new and improved fire-escape.

The object of the invention is to provide a fireescape in which a fireproof housing is provided for the escaping person or for rescuing parties, in which means is provided for lowering themselves from the building to the ground or elevating themselves from the ground to the building.

A further and more important object is to provide a tight fireproof cage which will protect the occupant from flame and smoke while passing through the same, all of which will In the appended drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a window and my improved device hung therefrom. Fig. 2 is a sectional view as viewed from above on line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is also a sectional view on line Y Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line z 2, Fig. 1. v

A A represent the framework of abarrelshaped housing or receptacle. Said frame consists of four curved bars, three of which are shown in Fig. 1 in elevation and all four of them in cross-section in the other figures. The upper and lower extremities are bolted or riveted to horizontal bars 0 and B, respectively. I prefer to construct this framework in such manner that it shall be in the form of a barrel, so that it will easily pass objects both in raising and lowering, though of course other forms may be used, if desired.- The skeleton thus formed is nowcovered with suspended. In the lower portion of the said receptacle is also a door A, which opens outward, so that the occupant may freely pass out upon the ground, all of which will be clearly understood. At about the middle of bolted to one of the uprights A, and having a lower extension or brace I, also secured to one of said portions A. On the same shaft with the pinion H is a gear J, which in turn meshes with a pinion K on a shaft K, having hearings in the said frame I. A crank L on the said shaft serves to impart motion to the entire train of wheels, and hence turn the drum, around which is wound a cable G. Said cable is hooked above the highest window of the building or upon the roof or other suitable and convenient place and is long enough. to reach to the ground. This cable passes through the top of the receptacle and between friction-rollers 0 held between the forked ends 0 of the arms 0, before mentioned. Braces O serve to hold the arms rigid, while their inner free ends carry the said pulleys or rollers. The latter members are so located that the cable must run over one or the other if the receptacle is inclined to turn as it ascends or descends. By placing the grooves so as to face one another it will seen that said cable will always have a 'free movement and with as little friction as possible.

The lower end of the cable, which is of metal to resist fire, is attached to the roller or drum F, and it will be seen that by turning the crank L the cable must be wound or unwound, as the case may be, depending, of course, on the direction of movement imparted to such crank.

At the end of the drum opposite the gear G is a bandbrake device consisting of a band 0, which surroundsthe said drum and whose ends are pivotally attached to a lever P, pivoted at one end to a convenient upright A, as shown. It will be seen that a considerable friction between the drum and band, so the operator in lowering himself merely keeps a sufficient pressure on the lever to allow the drum to slowly revolve to unwind the cable as the weight hangs from it. Adjacent to the band is a ratchet-wheel M, with which engages a pawl N, pivoted on the upright A adjacent thereto. Now as the cable is wound on the drum the ratchet and pawl prevent retrograde movement; but when it is desired to lower oneself to the ground or to a lower window the pawl is simply lifted and the band-brake put into use. I employ a bottom B, which rests upon the lower horizontal bars B, and on this the operator stands.

The entire device maybe kept in the upper story of the building to be equipped with fireescapes or one may be kept on every floor, and above the window suitable eyes are attached, as shown in Fig. 1, so that at a 1110- ments notice the cable may be hooked in place and ready for use. The window is opened and the cable attached, and then the receptacle is lifted out of the window and allowed to hang after throwing the pawl into engagement with its ratchet.

In addition to permitting the receptacle to hang by means of the cable and pawl I provide eyes R at the side of the window and connect with them hooks R, loosely attached to rods Q, which in turn are secured to the uprights A. When using these members, an additional safeguard is provided, so that the persons entering the receptacle may do so without fear of accident.

Although I only show one way of attaining the desired end, other constructions may be employed with as good results, the primary object being to provide a fireproof housing for the escaping parties which can be operated by the parties at will.

The receptacle may be of a size to accommodate one or several persons at a time, as desired, all of which will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a fire-escape apparatus, a closed metal receptacle for the escaping person the same being tapered from its middle toward both ends for the purposes described and composed of the framing A, the covering D therefor, a door E near the top for entering the receptacle the same opening inward, a door A near the bottom for exit purposes, the same opening outward, a Windlass F within the receptacle, the winding-gear H, I, J, K for operating it, the ratchet M on the Windlass, the pawl N for engaging the same for the purposes deseribed, the cable 0 for the Windlass the same passingthrough the top of the receptacle for attaching to the building, friction-rollers O in the top of the said receptacle for guiding the cable, and the hook Rattached to the top of the receptacle for attaching the latter to the building when. entering same all arranged as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL WARD.

Witnesses:

E. J. ABERSOL, CLAUDE J. CAREY. 

